[Harp-L] Re: Observations

[Snaruhn@xxxxxxx]

Hi

mox1@liberty´s observations are just right to Harpie´s comment.

< As it is (virtualy) impossable to read them, while actualy playing, 
< what purpose, other than tableture, do the numbers serve? >

Yeah, that´s what we call in Germany a "Doktorfrage" and because Harpie is
a graduated harpiologist he may answer your question. 

Thank you, Dad, that I have the honor. 

Oh no, these numbers can be noticed while playing, of course. They are 
"dedicated" to harp newbies when exercising in front of a mirror. That makes
sense because newbies are mostly puckering so that the lips don´t cover the
numbers. 
Later, puckering is generally replaced by TB and the numbers are now 
invisible.
Again that makes sense because in the meantime newbies have learned to
count up to 1 million and more if time allows and the numbers then become 
superfluous. 

Hey, folks, Harpie is kidding, of course. OK here´s what the numbers really 
meant. It´s not by chance that most diatonics have 10 holes because most 
harp players have 10 fingers too. 
 
When Hohner started to produce these notorious MBs the factory soon 
observed that exactly 50% of the players started to play the harp upside 
down.
BTW, that was the original idea to introduce the chromatics, because of these
knobs, you know...

Now, the engineers thought over the problem how to prevent that blues harpers
mostly start, then stop ..oh, excuse me .... and then continue with the other 
end.
(Only think about if the harp had more than 2 ends.) Well, now they engraved 
the
numbers 1 - 10 thinking the player would take a look to them before playing 
and
after a short moment of reflection would conclude that the no.1 means the 
lowest 
note, perhaps. 

However, the story went the wrong way. The players correctly thought that
because the harp has 10 holes it might be easier to count the holes on the 
fingers rather than to look on the numbers. 

So, the numbers became superfluous and the player still hits the correct 
first 
note by 50% only.

Note: Hohner wasn´t quite correct because 10% are usually lefties, 
        therefore, only 45%.   

< My dog howls every time I play the harmonica. >

Of course, your OBs are outtuned.

À votre santé

Siegfried